Spokane Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🔌 Power |
120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets |
| 🏙️ City |
Spokane, Washington, United States |
| 👥 Population |
Approximately 230,000 (Metro area 600,000) |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
95-150 Mbps; Fiber available via Quantum Fiber |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
US Dollar (USD). Major banks: Chase, Bank of America, Washington Trust Bank |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Drinkable, sourced from the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer |
| 📶 SIM Card |
T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T. Prepaid plans from $35/month at Target or Best Buy |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
Chase, Wells Fargo, or digital banks like Revolut and Wise |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Airbnb, Furnished Finder, and local property managers like Kiemle Hagood |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Yes, cards and mobile pay (Apple/Google) accepted almost everywhere |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb and VRBO. Avg. $120/night for central apartments |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
The Historic Davenport (off-peak $160) or Ruby River Hotel ($110) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
Downtown near Riverfront Park |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
South Hill (Manito Park area) or Browne's Addition |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Riverside State Park (15 mins from downtown) |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Glacier National Park (4.5 hours); Mount Rainier National Park (4.5 hours) |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
Centennial Trail (37 miles of paved path to Idaho border) |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Cliff Park (Marycliff Overlook) for city skyline views |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (Cheney, WA - 25 mins away) |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Designated pits at Liberty Lake Regional Park (Permit required) |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
UPS Store (N Division St), FedEx Office, USPS Main Post Office (Riverside Ave) |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
Gadget Fix (W Main St) for phones/laptops |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Spokane Table Tennis Club (N Howard St) |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
Spokane Falls Community College (ESL and foreign language courses) |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Spokane Central Library (recently renovated with podcast studios) |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
Southside Senior & Community Center |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
Geeks n' Glory (11612 E Sprague); Retro arcade and drinks |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
Northern Quest Resort & Casino (Airway Heights) |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $4,200/m²; e.g., 45m² = $189,000 |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $2,800/m²; e.g., 45m² = $126,000 |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $3,800/m²; e.g., 65m² = $247,000 |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $2,500/m²; e.g., 65m² = $162,500 |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $3,500/m²; e.g., 90m² = $315,000 |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $2,200/m²; e.g., 90m² = $198,000 |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
No state corporate income tax in WA; Business & Occupation (B&O) tax on gross receipts (varies 0.471% - 1.5%) |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
0% at state level (No state income tax in Washington) |
| 🏦 Tax System |
No State Income Tax; Federal income tax applies |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
37% (Federal level) |
| 🧾 VAT |
9.0% (Combined State and Local Sales Tax) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
Yes, applicable at the Federal US level (GILTI/Subpart F) |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
Yes, approx. 1.1% of assessed value annually |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) paid by seller (~1.1% to 3.0%) |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
0% State Income Tax makes it highly attractive for high-earning US residents |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
Fellow Coworking (304 W Pacific Ave); Day pass $25, Monthly $225 |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Indaba Coffee (1425 W Broadway Ave) - great Wi-Fi and ample seating |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Greater Spokane Inc. (GSI) business mixers and 'Spokane Tech' Meetup groups |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
Spokane International Translation and Culture events; local adult sports leagues via Spokane Parks |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
Uber and Lyft (widely available 24/7) |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
Lime electric bikes and scooters (Seasonal: March - November) |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Boulder Beach on the Spokane River or Coeur d’Alene City Park Beach (35 mins away) |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
Alaska Airlines (Hub: GEG - Spokane International) |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
Delta or United (connecting via Seattle, Salt Lake City, or Denver) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
Interstate 90 (East-West) and US-2/US-395 (North-South) |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
Spokane Intermodal Center (Amtrak Empire Builder and Greyhound) |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
STA (Spokane Transit Authority) - $2.00 single ride, $60 monthly 'Connect' pass |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
FlixBus or Amtrak to Seattle; 35-minute drive to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (101 W 8th Ave) |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
The Yoga Classroom (811 W 2nd Ave); Drop-in $20 |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
MUV Fitness (Multiple locations); Monthly approx. $40-$60 |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
The Laundry (731 N Monroe St); Wash and fold approx. $1.50/lb |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
DoorDash, UberEats, and Treehouse Deliveries (local) |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Huckleberry everything (pie, jam, or ice cream) |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Boots Bakery & Lounge (24 W Main Ave); Casual vegan fare |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Mary Lou's Milk Bottle (Garland District) - famous milkshakes |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
WinCo Foods for bulk groceries; My Fresh Basket for organics |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Amazon (Major distribution center locally means fast delivery) |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
Instacart and Walmart+ Delivery |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
Davenport District (Post St) and the West End Beer District |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
No-Li Brewhouse (1003 E Trent Ave) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
Nectar Wine and Beer (120 N Stevens St) |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
Food Truck Fridays at Wall Street (Seasonal); Mixed plates $12-$15 |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Queen of Sheba (Ethiopian) in the Flour Mill |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Riverfront Park and the Spokane Falls Gondola ($12) |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) - $12 admission |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
Campbell House (Classic 1898 mansion in Browne's Addition) |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
St. John's Cathedral (Gothic architecture on South Hill) |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Bloomsday Run (May) and Hoopfest (World's largest 3-on-3 basketball, June) |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
Garland Historical District (Vintage shops and indie cinema) |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
First Interstate Center for the Arts and Bing Crosby Theater |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Kendall Yard Night Market (Wednesdays, summer/early autumn) |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Knitting Factory (919 W Sprague Ave) for touring bands |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Murals under the rail overpasses and throughout the Monroe St corridor |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
The Kitchen Engine (621 W Mallon Ave) |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Saranac Art Projects (Main Ave) |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
The Davenport Hotel Lobby (re-opened 2002, built 1914) |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
Native American history focus at the MAC, honoring the Spokane Tribe |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING SPOKANE